An epicyclic gearbox is configured to transfer rotational motion between a first rotating component and a second rotating component of the gas turbine engine. The gearbox includes a centrally located sun gear, two or more planet gears circumscribing the sun gear, and a ring gear circumscribing the plurality of planet gears. The gearbox is configured such that the sun gear is drivingly coupled to the first rotating component, such that rotation of the sun gear causes rotation of each planet gear, and such that the ring gear rotates relative to the plurality of planet gears. The gearbox includes one or more shape memory alloy dampers provided in association with the sun gear, the ring gear, and/or the plurality of planet gears. The shape memory alloy damper(s) is configured in order to reduce vibrations transferred through the epicyclic gearbox to the frame, the first rotating component, and/or the second rotating component.

A valve includes a first inline compartment to attach to a first return line exiting a processing chamber and a second inline compartment to attach to a second return line entering a coolant source. A flow compartment is attached between the first inline compartment and the second inline compartment and through which a coolant is to return to the coolant source. A first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice positioned between the first inline compartment and the flow compartment. A plunger has a tip to variably open and close the second inlet orifice. A shape memory alloy (SMA) spring is positioned on the plunger and attached to the tip, the SMA spring to variably increase or decrease a flow rate of the coolant through the second inlet orifice according to a temperature of the coolant.

A vibration isolation system for a gas turbine engine. The vibration isolation system includes a first fixed structure and a second fixed structure separate from the first fixed structure. The vibration isolation system further includes a connector coupling the first fixed structure to the second fixed structure. Additionally, the vibration isolation system includes an isolator, including a shape memory alloy material, associated with the connector. The isolator is arranged between the first fixed structure and the second fixed structure such that the isolator reduces vibrations transferred between the first fixed structure and the second fixed structure.

A suspension assembly is described. The suspension assembly including a static member or plate; a moving member or plate movable about an x-axis and a y-axis with respect to the static plate; a sensor mounting region on the moving plate; and one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) elements extending between and coupled to the static plate and moving plate. The SMA elements, when driven by a controller, move the moving plate and the sensor mounting region thereon about the x-axis and the y-axis with respect to the static plate.

A self-resetting tuned mass damper is based on eddy current and shape memory alloy technology. The self-resetting tuned mass damper comprises a hollow box, a cover plate, a bolt, a mass block, gears a, gears b, gears c, copper sheets, permanent magnet groups, partition boards, balls, pins, levers, shape memory alloys, rotating shafts a, rotating shafts b, a supporting plate and rotating shafts c. The movement of the mass block causes the copper sheets to rotate and generate eddy current for energy consumption. The copper sheets are rotated and amplified by adjusting the sizes of the gears. The displacement of a small mass block can cause rotation of the copper sheets by a large angle, which greatly increases energy consumption efficiency. The elongation of the shape memory alloys is amplified by adjusting the ratio of long and short force arms of the levers.

An oilfield tool can include a composite structure that includes a reactive shape-memory alloy element disposed at least in part in a filler material.

An SMA-STF based viscous damper includes a first connector, a piston rod, a piston which is sheathed on the piston rod; a damping cylinder; first and second end covers which are respectively provided at two sides of the damping cylinder; a second connector which is fixedly connected to the second end cover; and first and second SMA springs which are respectively sheathed on the piston rod. The damping cylinder has first and second damping cavities between which the piston is arranged. One end of the piston rod passes through the first end cover and is connected to the first connector, and the other end passes through the second connector. The first and second SMA springs are respectively held in the first and second damping cavities in an elastic state. The first and second damping cavities are respectively filled with the STF.

The present disclosure provides a system for performing interactions within a physical environment, the system including: (a) a robot base; (b) a robot base actuator that moves the robot base relative to the environment; (c) a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon; (d) a tracking system that measures at least one of: (i) a robot base position indicative of a position of the robot base relative to the environment; and, (ii) a robot base movement indicative of a movement of the robot base relative to the environment; (e) an active damping system that actively damps movement of the robot base relative to the environment; and, (f) a control system that: (i) determines a movement correction in accordance with signals from the tracking system; and, (ii) controls the active damping system at least partially in accordance with the movement correction.

A variable-stiffness actuator includes a shape-memory member that increases in stiffness on heating, a heating member arranged to surround the shape-memory member along a longitudinal axis of the shape-memory member, and a heat transmitting medium arranged to surround the heating member along a longitudinal axis of the heating member. The heating member generates heat in response to supply of a current, so as to heat the shape-memory member. The heat transmitting medium is deformed to decrease an inner diameter of the heat transmitting medium to come into contact with the heating member, so as to cool the heating member. The heat transmitting medium is deformed to increase the inner diameter to come out of contact with the heating member.

A self-resetting tuned mass damper is based on eddy current and shape memory alloy technology. The self-resetting tuned mass damper comprises a hollow box, a cover plate, a bolt, a mass block, gears a, gears b, gears c, copper sheets, permanent magnet groups, partition boards, balls, pins, levers, shape memory alloys, rotating shafts a, rotating shafts b, a supporting plate and rotating shafts c. The movement of the mass block causes the copper sheets to rotate and generate eddy current for energy consumption. The copper sheets are rotated and amplified by adjusting the sizes of the gears. The displacement of a small mass block can cause rotation of the copper sheets by a large angle, which greatly increases energy consumption efficiency. The elongation of the shape memory alloys is amplified by adjusting the ratio of long and short force arms of the levers.